April 26, 2008 found us
at the Blair County Convention Center in
Altoona, PA for the 7th annual Spring Meeting
and Benefit Auction.
Glenn Dice moderated a
great session on EHD and the highlight of our
program was a visit by PA Department of
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Russell Reading.
The Benefit Auction grossed over $75,000.00 for
our general fund and the gun raffle over
$25,000.00 for our PAC fund.
Thanks to all of you
that donated and purchased items.
In my last newsletter I
spoke about the current boar issue in our state.
At our last board meeting in May the Board
established a Hunting Ranch Council within the
PDFA. This new Council is chaired by Mike Gee of
Tioga Hunting Ranch, with a goal to organize the
Hunting Ranches of the state so to better
address the boar and future issues.
The council is beginning
discussions with the PA Department of
Agriculture to establish regulations for inter
and intrastate movement of boar along with
fencing requirements. I encourage any PDFA
member that offers boar hunts to come to a
monthly board meeting and get involved in the
council.
The Association recently
was awarded a $16,500.00 matching grant from the
PA Department of Agriculture to promote deer
farming. We are currently working on a TV ad
campaign to promote deer farming in our state.
If all goes as planned we hope to be ready to
purchase air time this fall.
Plans are underway for
our Fall Premier Whitetail Trophy & Breeder Sale
to be held September 12 & 13, 2008 at the Blair
County Convention Center. Midwest Whitetail Deer
sales will once again be handling the sale and
they have big plans with huge giveaways. It will
be one dandy of sale you won't want to miss. You
can read more about it in this newsletter.
Have great summer and I
will look forward to seeing you at the Fall
Sale.